City to demand McLeish money

Birmingham will demand more than £5million in compensation from Aston Villa if they try to appoint Alex McLeish as their next manager and Blues even plan to seek an injunction against their bitter rivals to prevent them from hiring the former Scotland boss.

PUBLISHED: 08:27, Tue, Jun 14, 2011

Alex McLeish [PA]

Villa have approached their city rivals to discuss the legal situation regarding McLeish after the Scot quit his job as manager on Sunday. The contact from Villa was not an official approach, but it can be disclosed that an email was sent to Birmingham seeking clarification about McLeish's status.

McLeish still had two and a half years left on his contract when he sent an email to Blues' acting chairman, Peter Pannu on Sunday announcing his resignation. Pannu said: "I got an email from Aston Villa, finally replying to all of our queries. As expected, their legal department said 'now Alex McLeish is a free agent having resigned, we're free to speak to him'. This confirms all suspicions."

He added: "This shows what has happened.

"Within the first year he (McLeish), or the club who sign him, have to compensate us at £5.4m.

"The first year expires on June 30. The second year starts July 1, when the compensation fee is £3m.

"The urgency of the whole thing, with this email from Aston Villa, shows they can't even wait 17 days when the compensation is lower. It shows what this is all about.

"Because of this, what option is left to Alex McLeish and his advisers? To make allegations against Carson Yeung, against the board, for interference or whatever excuse to show constructive dismissal.

"I'll be seeking an injunction preventing Villa from hiring him.

"I'll be reporting what's happened to the Premier League. This is like conspiracy to defraud. It's borderline criminal. That's how strong I'll put it."

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